of milwaukee



BEST AVAILABLE COPY Jan. 31, 1928.

L. R. SMITH OIL REFINING STILL AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME BY ELECTRIC WELDING Original Filed Dec. 31. 1924 INVENTOR.

LR. SM/TH ATTORNEYS.

Reisauecl Jan. 31, 1 928.

umTEnsTArEs PATENT-OFFICE.

LLOYD RAYMOND SMITH, OF ZMIIJWA'IJ'KEIE,v WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO A. 0. SMITH CORPORATION, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

OIL-REFINING STILL AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME BY ELECTBIC WELDING.

Original No.'1,577,410, detea narea 16, 1926, Serial No. 758,994, filed December 31, 1924. Application m reissue filed November 26, 1927. Serial No. 235,889.

Thepresent invention relates to stills employed in refining crude oils, and to a method by-the practice of the steps of wh ch it is now rendered possible to construct stills embodying the invention in its concrete form. In the treatment .of oils of the nature specified, many adverse conditions are en-' countered which can be but partially overcome in such apparatus as it has been pos sible to construct in accordance with previously known methods. This situation is due to what have been regarded and accepted heretofore as insurmountable physical limitations imposed upon the erection of such apparatus. Such limitations have acted with a forbidding restraint upon the construction-of ap aratus of surpassingly large dimensions, and have served necessarily to limit the construction of the a paratus to such dimensions as could be prod iiced by the practice of known methods of manufacture, subject always to'the furtherandequally ef- ,fective limitations upon the capacity and power of existing mechanical devices to produce such apparatus. In the refining of crude oils, it is recognized that superior results are attained where the volume of oil in the course of distillation is large; in fact, the la'rger the quantityof oil undergoing-treatment, the better the quality," so far as results are concerned. Hence, the. demand for; stills of enormous size. -And in order" to permit quantitylarge but sions have. been, erected subject, however, to the physical restraints l'iereinbefore referred treatment, stills of comparatively to, so that it has not been possible "hereto fore to construct stills above certain 'dimen r 1 them into longitudinal troughs,"the radius Stills used in this artare subject to de- ;ions.

:eriorating influences, which in the course of lcomparativel short time render them unserviceable, he corrosive elements conitantly at work upon the inside of the still, :ogether with the very high internal pres- :ures, and the high external temperatures, ire factors which contribute to the destruc- .ion of the still. It is therefore essential but the stills be constructed as substantially LS possible in order to prolon the period of heir serviceability to. the fu est extent.

yet limited constructional dimen-- In making stills as heretofore, the several slabs selected for conversion into the curved )lates of which the still is formed, have em limited to a thickness of about one and one-half inches, by reason of the impossibility and uncertainty of welding satisfactorily any plates of greater thickness. The system of welding heretofore used in the manufacture of these stills, is the hammer or forge method, with its limitations. But the practice of this known method is exceedingly difficult, as well as very expensive, and carries with it no' assurancethat the welded joint is perfect. The defects, however, do not manifest themselves until after the completed still has been put into use, and leaks in the welded joints appear. When so manifested, the development of the defect is often fatal to the still, for it is then sometimes beyondcorrection. Consequently, the

period of serviceability of the stlll is shortened, and great financial loss is involved in the failure to receive from the still the degree of service for which it was constructed.

But by my improved method of manufacturing, a still is produced which it is assured at the start is entirely free from constructional defects, and I am-enabled to use plates of a thickness of two and one-half inches, or more, in the construction thereof, thus greatly prolonging the life of the still. It is proposed by. me to construct stills having a len -h of at least forty feet and a diameter of rom four to seven feet, .or more,v at the sametime produce a still as an integral structurewholly. free. from seams or joints, of such nature as have constituted objections in prior structures. a

:method, I take mill In carrying'out m slabs. of. a length of orty feet, and convert upon which the troughs are formed bein computed upon the diameter of the sti i The. plates so curved to form trough-like sections are assembled in the required number to form a symmetrical tubular structure having a length of forty feet, and the several sections are then by an electric arc fused along their meeting edges into an integral structure. In the practice of arc welding,

successive layers of weldin metal flowing from a fusible weldrod are eposlted in the previously prepared welding groove, so that thorough amalgamation of the metals takes place and an integral structure free from any joints is assured.

he heads for the still, which may be as shown or may be drawn from slabs of slightl thicker gauge, are fusedto. the ends of the tubular structure after the same man ner of preparation and fusion of the meeting edges, so that a single, integral produced.

Having thus outlined the difficulties of the prior art, and the manner in which such difliculties are overcome and eliminated by my invention, I will now more particularly describe the latter, and point out the novelty thereof in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a still constructed in accordance \Vlth'lTLV invention, the view at one end being partially broken out to show the arrangement of component parts of the still.

Fig. -2 is a sectional view on a transverse line through the still showing the arrange;

-ment of the trough-like sections in a construction in which plates are embodied.

Fig.' 3 is a longitudinal sectional central view through one end of the still showing the arrangement of the heads thereof.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, similar to Fig. 2, showing the formation of one type of welding groove at the meeting line of the edges of the plates so as to facilitate the fusing operations by which the integral structure is produced.

In the construction of stills of the present type, it has not heretofore been possible ,to avoid circumferential seams or welds upon the still at points intermediate .its ends, where the edges of the plates are joined, as well as longitudinal seams or welds where the ends of the plates are joined. All of such joints produced by the ractice of the known methods of construct-ion are poten tially weak and liable to open under the action of the acids in the tank. aided by the high internal ressures to which the tank is subjected an tbegvery high temperatures required for distillation. Especially. does a serious weakness develop at the intersection of a circumferential weld and a longitudinal weld, due to the practical impossibility of effecting a perfect weld at such points by known methods of forge welding. Lapp d seams are not to be tolerated in the zone in which heat is applied to the still. and so these have been discarded, for this and the further reason that such seams would introinside surface of the still. which latter is required to have a smooth and unbroken contour upon its interior.

In carrying out my inventionin the production of a still having a length of, say. forty feet, I take a number of flat slabs of structure is structure that len hand of suitable uniform width and this mess; the latter "may be two and one-half inches or more. These slabs are pressed or otherwise formed into longitudinal trough-like sections 10, the cross sectional curve or are of which is computed upon the diameter of the still, so that when such sections 1n the requlred number are asedges of the sections into an integral tul'Jular,

of unusual proportions. width ofthe plates is but nominalwhcn compared with their length, so'tha-t such length is many times such width.

' On account of the thickness of the metal, and the impossibility of the welding. arc penetrating and fusing the same in a commensurate degree for its entire depth, I provide in the line of the meeting edges of the longitudinally curved plate, a welding groove 11. which may, for instance. have the form indicated in Fig. 4. Such groove may be produced conveniently by machining away the outer corners of the plates so as to produce a U-shaped groove, at the bottom of which the metal is so reduced in thickness as to be readily penetrated and fused for its entire depth by the electric are when the latter is applied thereto.

As a means for conducting the electric current, I prefer to use a destructible metallie weldrod which is fused in the ratio of its feeding movement toward the work. The molten metal flowing from the meldrod is deposited in the groove, such molten metal uniting with the fused metal of the side walls thereof, so that in the longitudinal as well as in the lateral traverse of the weldrod in the groove, the latter becomes filled with a succession of layers of welding metal, and a homogeneous fused structure is produced. which will be found to possess a tensile strength which in any region is not less than that of the metalof which the tubular structure is formed. This result is due to- Heads 12 and 13 are drawn from circular discs or slabs having the same or a slightly increased thickness over that of the plates 10, and to equalize the internal pressures. the said heads may be hemi-spherical. and drawn upon-a radius based upon the diameter of the still, but these features of construction may be varied. The heads are fused to. the tubular member in the manner previously described, a welding groove as before being duly formed in thcmectin'g line of the ends of the cylinder and the rims of the heads.

1- I prefer touse covered weldrods' as con ductors for the arc-ing'current, by reason of certain inhering advantages now well known in the metallic-arc-weldlng art, and with a "iew to economizing in the consumption of such weldrod-s, I mflyl place in the welding I groove slugs or rods of metal which will be fused by the arc, and thus supply a portion of the additional welding metal required for filling the groove and uniting the parts.

The neck pieces or flanged pipe connections at the several openingsin the still are attached at the outside b'y'the same manner of preparation and by arc welding, so that the interior surface of the still is entirely smooth and free from any irregularities or projections which would interfere with the agitators and scrapers. I

Having thus describe my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters'P-atent of the United States, is:

1. A still for use in refining oils, comprising a plurality of thick plates of extreme length curved transversely and assembled edge to edge to constitute a tubularstructure, the sections being fused together in the longitudinal meeting line of their edges by an electric arc to form an integral tubular structure without circumferential joints.

2. A still for use in refining oils, comprising a plurality of thick plates of extreme length curved transversely and assembled edge to edge in circular order to constitute a tubular structure, the'sections being fused together in the line of their longitudinal meeting edges by an electric arc, to form an integral tubular structure having a smooth and symmetrical interior and without circumferential joints.

3. A still for use in refining oils, comprising a plurality of thickplates of extreme length and of' uniform width curvedtransversely and assembled edge to edge to constitute a tubular structure, the sections being fused together in the line of their longitudinal meeting edges by an electric arc, to form an integral tubular structure of uniform diameter and without circumferential seams in its length. J

4. A still for use in refining oils, comprising a plurality of thick plates having a length many times their width curved transversely and assembled edge to edge to constitute a tubular structure of uniform diameter, the sections being fused together at the meeting line of their edges by an electric are into an integral tubular structure without circumferehtial joints', and with additional welding material fused into the structure at the meeting lines;

5. A still for use in refining oils, composed of a plurality of transversely curved ,thick plates of extreme length assembled with their longitudinal edges in register to create a tubularstructure havinga smooth interior, the said plates being fused at such meeting line by an electric arc to form an integral tubular. structure without circum-- ferential joints in its length, and heads' tudinal trough-like sections, assembling a plurality of such sections in circular order with their edges in register, and'fusing such sections in the meeting? line of their edges by an electric arc to constitute an integral joints.

method which comprises the steps of converting thick lates having a length many times their wi th'into longitudinal troughl1 ke.sections with edges reduced in thickness to form a weldin such sections in circu ar order with their edges in register, and fusing the said ed es by playing an electric arc in the weldmg groove to constitute an integral tubular structure without circumferential joints.-

8. In the manufacture of stills of extreme dimensions for use in oil distillation, the method which comprises the steps of converting thick plates having alength many times their width into longitudinal trough-like sections with edges reduced in thickness to form a welding groove, assembling such sections in circular order with their edges in register, and fusing the said edges by playing an electric arc in the weld ing groove and filling the welding groove with: welding metal to constitute an integral tubular structure without circumferential oints.

9. In the manufacture of stills of extreme dimensions for use in oil distillation, the method which comprises the steps of converting thick plates having a length many times their width into longitudinal troughlike sectionswith edges. reduced in thickness to form a welding groove, assembling the manufacture of stills of extremedimensions for'use in 011 distillation, the

groove, assembling tubular structure without circumferential such sections in circular order with their constitute an integra tubular structure without circumferential oints.

10. In the manu acture of stills of ex'- treme dimensions for use in oil distillation the method which com rises the steps of converting thick metal ates of great length into longitudinal troug -like sections, assembling such sections in circular order with their edges in registry, fusing such sections in the meeting line of their edges by an elec tric arc to form a tubular member without circumferential joints, and fusing heads to the ends of the tubularmemlier to complete the structure and constitute the Whole as an integral structure.

11. In the manufacture of'stills of extreme dimensions for use in oil distillation.

the method which comprises the steps of converting thick metal plates of great length into longitudinal trough-like sections with edges reduced in thickness to form a welding groove, assembling the sections with their edges in registry, fusing the sections together at the meeting'line of the edges and filling the groove with welding metal to form a tubular member without circumferential joints, and fusing headsto the ends f the tubular member by an electric arc to complete and constitute the whole as an integral structure.

12. A still for use in'refining oils. embodying a plurality of metal plates of extreme thickness and length curved transversely and assembled edge to edge in circular order, the said trick metal plates being welded together ontheir longitudinal meeting lines by an electric'current into a tubular structure without circumferential joints in the length thereof.

13. A still for use in refining oils, comprising a plurality of metal plates of extreme thickness and length curved transversely and assembled edge to edge in circular order, the said thick metal plates being welded together on their longitudinal meeting lines by an electric current into a tubular structure without circumferential joints in the length thereof. and heads fused the method which comprises the steps of converting metal 'plates of extreme thickness and great length into longitudinal trough-like sections, assembling a plurality converting metal plates of extreme thickness and great length into longitudinal trough-like sections, assembling a plurality of such sections in circular order with their longitudinal edges in register, and heating and welding the said sections in their meet-- 'ing lines by an electric currentto constitute an integral tubular structure without circumferential joints in the length thereof, forming heads of substantially like diameter and thickness, arranging such heads one at each end of the tubular structure, and fusing and welding the parts in their meeting lines by an electric current to complete I the closure.

16. In the manufacture of stills of extreme dimensions for use in refining oil, the method which comprises the steps of forming a tubular body of metal of excessive thick ness and great length, forming a concaved head of substantially like diameter and thickness of metal, arranging the heads one at each end of the tubular body, heating the parts in their meeting lines by an electrical current, and welding them into an integral structure to complete the closure.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name at Milwaukee, this 25th day of November, 1927.

L. B. SMITH.

CERTIFICATE or. coRR acnoN.

' R'eissue Patent No. 16, 865.

the word."meldcod.' read "weldr Granted January 31, 1928, to

LLOYD RAYMOND SMITH.

It is hereby certified that error appears 'in the printed specification of the Seal;

abovenumbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2; line 102, for page 4, line 26, claim 12, for the word "trick" read "thick"; and that .the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform tothe record of the case in the Petent Office. I Signed and sealed this 6th day of March,

Moore, I, Acting Commissioner of "Patents.

in the meeting line of their edges by an elec tric arc to form a tubular member without circumferential joints, and fusing heads to the ends of the tubularmemlier to complete the structure and constitute the Whole as an integral structure.

11. In the manufacture of'stills of extreme dimensions for use in oil distillation.

the method which comprises the steps of converting thick metal plates of great length into longitudinal trough-like sections with edges reduced in thickness to form a welding groove, assembling the sections with their edges in registry, fusing the sections together at the meeting'line of the edges and filling the groove with welding metal to form a tubular member without circumferential joints, and fusing headsto the ends f the tubular member by an electric arc to complete and constitute the whole as an integral structure.

12. A still for use in'refining oils. embodying a plurality of metal plates of extreme thickness and length curved transversely and assembled edge to edge in circular order, the said trick metal plates being welded together ontheir longitudinal meeting lines by an electric'current into a tubular structure without circumferential joints in the length thereof.

13. A still for use in refining oils, comprising a plurality of metal plates of extreme thickness and length curved transversely and assembled edge to edge in circular order, the said thick metal plates being welded together on their longitudinal meeting lines by an electric current into a tubular structure without circumferential joints in the length thereof. and heads fused the method which comprises the steps of converting metal 'plates of extreme thickness and great length into longitudinal trough-like sections, assembling a plurality converting metal plates of extreme thickness and great length into longitudinal trough-like sections, assembling a plurality of such sections in circular order with their longitudinal edges in register, and heating and welding the said sections in their meet-- 'ing lines by an electric currentto constitute an integral tubular structure without circumferential joints in the length thereof, forming heads of substantially like diameter and thickness, arranging such heads one at each end of the tubular structure, and fusing and welding the parts in their meeting lines by an electric current to complete I the closure.

16. In the manufacture of stills of extreme dimensions for use in refining oil, the method which comprises the steps of forming a tubular body of metal of excessive thick ness and great length, forming a concaved head of substantially like diameter and thickness of metal, arranging the heads one at each end of the tubular body, heating the parts in their meeting lines by an electrical current, and welding them into an integral structure to complete the closure.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name at Milwaukee, this 25th day of November, 1927.

L. B. SMITH.

CERTIFICATE or. coRR acnoN.

' R'eissue Patent No. 16, 865.

the word."meldcod.' read "weldr Granted January 31, 1928, to

LLOYD RAYMOND SMITH.

It is hereby certified that error appears 'in the printed specification of the Seal;

abovenumbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2; line 102, for page 4, line 26, claim 12, for the word "trick" read "thick"; and that .the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform tothe record of the case in the Petent Office. I Signed and sealed this 6th day of March,

Moore, I, Acting Commissioner of "Patents. 

